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I knew of a family viviting here from India. They had a little girl that didn't have any friends here. Attempting to make her happy, she was taken to see the movie Frozen. She was so excited after seeing it, that everything she wanted had to have a 'frozen' theme to it. So, before she left to go back to her home country, I found a public domain picture of the Frozen characters, blew it up to about 18 x 21, mounted it on a piece of BB, and cut it into a puzzle for her. I then took some scraps of Popular and made a box with her name on the top, for her to keep the puzzle pieces in. I will never forget the smile on her face when she saw it. Well worth the time and effort spent on making it.

I love it, Bob, and I love the box as well! You did a really nice job with it.
Just an FYI, I doubt anything made by Disney is in the public domain (a lot of sites will make such a claim, but it's often not true). Best bet is just to buy the art as a print, calendar, etc, and then it's pretty much yours to do with what you wish for your own personal use (just don't make copies, etc.)

This puzzle will be such a hit for Kaya. I really like the inlay on the lid!
Did you hinge the top, or does it just rest in place?

Wonderful job. You may have to learn about customs declarations forms etc and shipping to India when she gets home.

__________________"Still Montana Mike"

There is a very fine line between “hobby” and “mental illness.”As You Slide Down the Banister of Life, Pray That All The Splinters Are Pointed The Other Way..."Don't worry about old age--it doesn't last that long."Mike's Wood-n-Things LLC

Hey Shawn - I always watch your work for inspiration, and I value your advice. Thank you! I thought about all of that after I started cutting the puzzle, but I wasn't making copies to sell or profit from - it was a one time puzzle, a gift for a lonely little girl, so I thought it would be fine. My only 'profit', was seeing her surprise and smiles. That was worth more to me than any monetary value anyway.

The box was made from some left over popular cutoffs. In the picture, the lid merely fit on, but I wound up putting on hinges and a clasp on the front to keep it closed and secure, since she was carrying it half way around the world.

To Bob (avapilot) - thank you for the kind words.

To Montana Mike - no thank you - I'm not an importer/exporter - I'm just Grandpa, trying to give a child some wonderful memories!

Hey Shawn - I always watch your work for inspiration, and I value your advice. Thank you! I thought about all of that after I started cutting the puzzle, but I wasn't making copies to sell or profit from - it was a one time puzzle, a gift for a lonely little girl, so I thought it would be fine. My only 'profit', was seeing her surprise and smiles. That was worth more to me than any monetary value anyway.

I agree, Bob....I don't think you'll have any problems at all.

My point was more aimed toward the websites which advertise public domain art, which really isn't. Surprisingly, there are quite a few out there. Wikipedia Commons is usually a pretty safe bet, however, and if all else fails, research when the artwork was created. Anything prior to 1923 is typically in the public domain.

Another strategy is to visit art shows, and if you see a form of art which looks appealing for puzzles, talk with the artist. I obtained agreements from 5 artists this past weekend alone at a show. Since I don't mass produce, and the vast majority of what I sell is for charity, often the agreement is a one time use arrangement, which can be as simple as buying the print with permission to resell as a puzzle.

Anyhoo....I don't think anyone will give you a hard time about a puzzle cut for personal use, and made for a little girl.